Races in the Canton of Bern

The federal capital, nestled in a loop of the Aare, Bern is only the opening act 🐻. The canton then lines up Lake Thun, Lake Brienz and Lake Biel, the hills of the Emmental and the giants of the Bernese Oberland, from the Eiger to the Jungfrau. For races in the canton of Bern, there is no shortage of choice, from urban asphalt to high-altitude trails.

The region offers three very distinct atmospheres. In the north, the Seeland and Lake Biel reveal flat, bright courses. In the center, the Emmental rolls between farms with enormous roofs and cheese dairies. In the south, the Oberland climbs fast and high, with passes above 2,500 m 🏔️. The climate stays mild from May to October, with cool mornings, long days and golden light in autumn. In winter, the snow invites you to put away your bibs while you prepare for the next season.

The Bernese race calendar opens in May with the Grand Prix of Bern in the capital and the Bieler Lauftage in Biel. June kicks off the Marathon des 2 Vignobles on the shores of Lake Biel 🏃. In July, the Eiger Ultra-Trail by UTMB® and the Ironman Switzerland in Thun raise the temperature, before the Jungfrau Marathon in September. To find your discipline, head to the pages on trail running in the canton of Bern, running in the canton of Bern or triathlons in the canton of Bern.

According to legend, the name of Bern comes from a bear, and the plantigrade still reigns over the city from its park by the water. Albert Einstein worked there at the patent office, which gives a bit of relativity to a finish time that stretches out on the climbs 😄. After the effort, the Emmental offers its cheese with holes 🧀 to get you back on your feet. From a first 5 km to a big ultra facing the glaciers, everyone will find their race according to their level and their appetite for verticality. To broaden your horizons, the calendar of mountain races in Switzerland awaits on the other side of the canton.